GOP blocks stimulus

After losing a key vote that shreds the bipartisan truce that prevailed over the economic stimulus package in the House, Senate Democrats will be forced to backpedal and either work with Republicans or risk being accused of delaying a crucial jolt to the ailing economy.

The Senate fell just one vote short Wednesday of the 60 needed to cut off a Republican filibuster and force through the Democratic stimulus bill, which had billions more for energy initiatives, senior citizens and disabled veterans than the House bill contained.

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The political dance carried out by Democratic leaders over the past few weeks on the $146 billion economic package amounted to a good cop, bad cop routine. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) won almost universal praise for cutting a deal with Republicans on a simple rebate package. Then Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) quickly earned widespread ire from Republicans as he forced a vote on an economic bill much more expansive than what Republicans would accept.

“Sen. Reid is going to give Republicans a chance to reconsider their vote against efforts to strengthen the economy by helping those who need it most,” said Reid spokesman Jim Manley, suggesting a procedural motion may be in the works to keep the package on track.

Reid went to extraordinary lengths to adjust the Senate schedule so Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) could peel away from their intense campaign schedules to shore up Democratic support, but it still wasn’t enough. Reid may now be forced to accept piecemeal amendments that would give rebates for senior citizens and disabled veterans while extra unemployment insurance may be jettisoned.

Reid made repeated calls to wavering Republicans, including Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), who was one of eight Republicans to back the Democratic bill. Four of the Republicans who voted with Democrats are up for reelection this year and didn’t want to risk the quick campaign ads denouncing them for opposing tax rebates for senior citizens and poor people.

“My phone was busy all afternoon,” Domenici said after voting for the bill. “I got plenty of phone calls from people trying to get me to change, but I didn’t.”

The vote represented a significant procedural victory for Republicans and was a crucial test of party unity under their new whip, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who managed to prevent mass defections from members itching to back billions in social welfare spending in an election year.

Many Democrats left the Senate floor deflated, having been beaten once again by the robust Senate GOP minority.

“This is very disturbing,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

“[Republicans] don’t blink spending an extra dollar in Iraq, but you ask them to spend an extra dollar on Americans, and they all cave,” added Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.).

Democratic senators have all but promised to use the vote against GOP senators up for reelection, but that seemed to backfire with many Republicans. Within minutes of the vote, the national Democratic Senate campaign committee was blasting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for being “the deciding vote against tax rebates.”

“This is the one time this year to get out a bipartisan bill,” said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). “And [Democrats] want to play politics with it.”

Now Democrats are privately trying to figure out how to add items like rebates for senior citizens and disabled veterans and complete work on a bill so they won’t be blamed for derailing a package they’ve continuously touted as “timely” in helping the economy.